How long will my work pass (EP, S-Pass, WP) application take

beppi · 2018-04-10T11:41:40+02:00

There have been numerous discussions and questions recently about the time needed to process a work pass application. For the benefit of those inquirers - and to avoid multiple threads about the same topic - I would like to explain the process in detail here: First, let me say that MoM does not disclose their actual internal processes, so the following is based on circumstantial evidence and observations by some users here (mainly Surya and me), plus what other users post about their own application process and results - so please come back here and post yours, to improve the information available on this site. Furthermore, MoM is a law unto itself - and has the right to do whatever they want, including deviating from their own rules and publications. It is their game, their court and their ball. If you don't like this, don't apply! That said, the following are guidelines that apply in most (but not all) cases. In addition, it is the status as of now (Apr.2018) and things can and do change. 1. A Singapore work pass can only be applied for by a Singapore-registered employer willing to hire you. They must submit the offer letter (accepted by you) and full job and salary details. They cannot apply before this is settled. 2. The employer has to cover all work pass application fees (and if they engage an agent to help with the formalities, also the agent's fees - Please note that an agent alone CANNOT apply for a Singapore work pass!). They are not allowed to charge the job seeker for it. Thus all Singapore work passes are free of charge for the job seeker! 3. On submission of an application, MoM first performs a rough check if the application can be entered into the process. The submission will be rejected if - the application is not complete (e.g. missing documents or information), or - the job seeker already has another work pass application running 4. If this check is positive, the application is entered into the system. This means a FIN number is issued (and the employer informed of this) or an existing FIN of the job seeker re-used and the application entered into the EPOnline system with status "pending". It may take a week or so until this is done. 5. Next, the officer in charge will check whether the employer is allowed and able to hire foreigners: - Is the industry strategically allowed to hire foreigners (e.g. due to a lack of local workforce)? - Is the company banned or had problems with foreign employees in the past? - Do they have a viable business model and can pay the offered salary? - Does the employer have space for you in their foreigner quota (S-Pass and WP only)? - Was the job posted on the jobs bank for two weeks, with no suitable local applying? During this stage, MoM may ask for additional documents from the company, and process will resume only on their submission. If MoM then decides negatively, the application is rejected without further checks. This stage may take 1 - 3 weeks, depending on the workload of the officer in charge. 6. After this, your personal credentials are checked: - Are your submitted certificates recognised and correct? MoM may (at their discretion) engage external agencies (e.g. in your home country and elsewhere) for the verifications, which by itself takes 2 - 12 weeks (the timing is out of MoM's control) and can be seen by your EPOnline status changed to "pending input from vetting agencies". - Is your background (education and work experience) suitable for the job offered? (Note: It is basically impossible to get a work pass without experience in a similar job.) - Is there a strategic interest (and benefits) for Singapore to have you working here? - And, last but not least, is the offered salary within the market norms for this job in Singapore? You will be rejected if you earn too little or too much! Again, additional documents and information may be requested during this stage (e.g. a justification why the employer wants to hire you and no other candidate). If not, this may take 1 - 3 weeks. 7. If all these checks are positive, MoM will approve your application, inform the employer of this and send an IPA (In Principle Approval) letter to them. The IPA is your visa to enter Singapore, so you should travel within its validity (usually a month). In exceptional circumstances, the IPA validity can be extended by up to a month (the employer must apply for this). If the IPA expires and you didn't travel yet, you lost your chance to work on this job! 8. After your arrival, a health check is required in most cases. This is mentioned in the IPA. 9. Then MoM will issue the actual work pass (usually on the spot or within a day) and you can start work. From submission to start of work, you should realistically plan for at least two months, but this can be shorter or longer depending on many factors nobody can foresee. Some additional notes: - MoM rarely discloses any rejection reasons, but sometimes the wording in the rejection letter gives a hint. E.g. "This candidate is not eligible for a work pass, please look for another candidate" means you have no chance of getting any work pass at all, often due to misconduct in the past (MoM has a very long memory and good databases!). - A rejection can be appealed against by the employer. For this to be successful, additional information must be included that alleviate the rejection reason. If the reason is not known, it may help for the employer to arrange a personal meeting with the officer in charge. You may come along to such a meeting. - If the appeal also has been rejected, the decision is final and you cannot work on this job in Singapore. - An appeal process can take as long or longer than the original application. - In some, rare cases where the employer has very strong reasons for you to start work before the application process is completed, they can request a temporary work pass from MoM. - In all other cases, there is nothing you can do to accelerate the process. MoM takes as long as Mom takes - and all you can do is wait. There is no point asking on this forum how long it will take (nobody here knows!), or complaining about it. - You or the employer can, however, at any time cancel the application for any reason. This of course ends your attempt to work in Singapore. Good luck! (Yes, al lot depends on this, too!)

Last activity 26 November 2024 by aimocomia

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beppiGermany - Singapore Expert07 June 2019 08:45:15

#401

15302

The current average processing time seems to be slightly less than a month. The vetting process does not usually take shorter than they predict. Thus a result next weeks is improbable.

kingmoMember07 June 2019 08:55:02

#402

Thanks Beppi. Will keep sharing any progress

mithot07New member09 June 2019 06:05:20

#403

The best is to check with MOM website or just call them

ShsenthNew member10 June 2019 11:12:24

#404

Hi All ,

My EP was submitted on May 22nd and had been pending since then .

There is so no mention of additional documents etc .

Is it safe to assume they won't be needing any other confirmation ?

I was under the expectation the epass is approved within 3 weeks if no additional documents required ?

Do let me know any inputs

Thank you in advance
Shyam

avinashjhaActive member10 June 2019 14:32:41

#405

Shsenth wrote:
Hi All ,

My EP was submitted on May 22nd and had been pending since then .

There is so no mention of additional documents etc .

Is it safe to assume they won't be needing any other confirmation ?

I was under the expectation the epass is approved within 3 weeks if no additional documents required ?

Do let me know any inputs

Thank you in advance
Shyam

Though MOM website says "3 weeks" but tere are cases which have taken longer (without any apparent reason). Ask your employer to check with MOM.

My too is stuck in "Pending" status without any way to know what is the progress. It's frustrating but nothing can be done about it.

beppiGermany - Singapore Expert10 June 2019 19:12:27

#406

15302

Avinashjha: Thanks for posting the facts, so Surya and me don‘t have to do it all the time (It does get boring after a while).

kingmoMember10 June 2019 22:47:59

#407

Avinashja
When did you submit the application?

avinashjhaActive member11 June 2019 01:27:44

#408

28 may

kingmoMember11 June 2019 03:25:08

#409

Hope u and Shsenth and myself get the approval soon.

avinashjhaActive member11 June 2019 04:33:13

#410

kingmo wrote:
Hope u and Shsenth and myself get the approval soon.

I do hope so. . But then everday I wake up with the hope..today's the day. haha... let's see what Momma has in store for her kids !!

Good luck to u, me and everyone in process.

avinashjhaActive member13 June 2019 07:48:23

#411

Either the officer having my application has most number of applications, or s/he is on leave or tooooo slow !!! The status still is stuck at "Pending" !!!

Anyone got approvals in past two days ?

ShsenthNew member13 June 2019 08:16:23

#412

Hi Team ,

My approval came through today Afternoon

Time lines
Applied May 22nd Approved June 13th (22 days )

My company called MOM ( they can do so only after 21 days have passed ) and it was approved soon after

Thank you everyone for the assistance so far and good luck

avinashjhaActive member13 June 2019 08:19:53

#413

Shsenth wrote:
Hi Team ,

My approval came through today Afternoon

Time lines
Applied May 22nd Approved June 13th (22 days )

My company called MOM ( they can do so only after 21 days have passed ) and it was approved soon after

Thank you everyone for the assistance so far and good luck

Congratulations !!!

kingmoMember13 June 2019 08:46:01

#414

Congratulations

Valery94New member13 June 2019 12:24:55

#415

My congratulations to you! 😊
My EP was applied on 22d of May too. Hope to hear a good news too!
Did you have the status 'We needs inputs from other agancies...'? How long did you have it?

avinashjhaActive member14 June 2019 07:18:50

#416

My EP got Approved just now.

kingmoMember14 June 2019 07:33:53

#417

Congratulations !! Mine is still waiting.

kingmoMember14 June 2019 07:57:31

#418

Hi Valery
Do u still have the current status need inputs from other agencies to process the application ?

avinashjhaActive member14 June 2019 08:03:19

#419

kingmo wrote:
Congratulations !! Mine is still waiting.

Thanks. Hope you too gets it approved soon !!

kingmoMember14 June 2019 08:06:52

#420

So your status is from pending to approved
No other status right? My current status is still under ’ needs inputs from other agencies to possess the application

avinashjhaActive member14 June 2019 08:08:39

#421

Yes... directly from Pending to Approved. Usually cases like yours where inputs from other vetting agencies is needed should take around 4 weeks.

Valery94New member14 June 2019 08:16:19

#422

Hi, Kingmo!

Yes, my status is still the same is yours.

My agent told me it means that The MOM is considering my documents in other departments of the Ministry.
Seems like 'vetting' status is going before and checking the degrees.
Finally, our documents have checked and we are waiting for the decision!

Valery94New member14 June 2019 08:17:44

#423

Avinashjha, congratulations! 🎉

beppiGermany - Singapore Expert14 June 2019 16:34:42

#424

15302

avinashjha wrote:
My EP got Approved just now.

Great, congratulations!
I also want to thank you dor sharing your knowledge freely on this forum. We all really appreciate it!

avinashjhaActive member14 June 2019 18:37:57

#425

Thank you.

Neer_coolMember15 June 2019 03:26:35

#426

Hi All ,
MY EP pass appication was submitted around 20-feb-2019 and still i didnot get any update .I check with my Employer but not getting any response.
I have only the application no. and date of filling .can i myself check the status .
why i tried to check it ask for NRIC/FIN no. i dont have that and it doesnot allow to go further without that

kingmoMember15 June 2019 06:48:40

#427

Hi Neer,
U can try your passport number instead of NRIC/FIN

beppiGermany - Singapore Expert15 June 2019 07:46:07

#428

15302

As far as I know, the application number becomes your FIN after approval.

avinashjhaActive member15 June 2019 08:54:09

#429

beppi wrote:
As far as I know, the application number becomes your FIN after approval.

No Beppi. Application number is different to FIN number even after approval for the 1st EP.

EPOL website asks to enter FIN/NRIC/Malaysia IC and Name to check status. 1st time applicants won't have any of this. BUT - this field ALSO accepts Passport Number.

Neer_coolMember15 June 2019 10:40:03

#430

Hi Avinash,

Mine is submitted by my employer so can i track it or not .actually when i am giving the passport no. getting same message as record not found

avinashjhaActive member15 June 2019 12:06:40

#431

Neer_cool wrote:
Hi Avinash,

Mine is submitted by my employer so can i track it or not .actually when i am giving the passport no. getting same message as record not found

Yes you can. The page gives you three options to check the status - 1. Passport number and DOB. 2. Application number and Date of Application. 3. FIN and Date of Application.

If it still gives you Record Not Found then check with the Employer. But since u say your Employer isn't responding then, sorry, maybe they never filed your EP. . Can contact the HR of the company and check ?

kingmoMember17 June 2019 03:39:02

#432

My EP got approved just now.
Timeline
27 May Status: Submitted
31 May Status: Need inputs from other agencies to process the applications. The outcome may be available in 4 weeks time.
17 June Status: Approved
Exactly 3 weeks
Good luck to everyone who is waiting for the outcome.
Thank Bepppi for your advice.
Cheers

Nelvin.dpalMember17 June 2019 07:19:14

#433

Hii kingmo,

Before the status submitted,when your application has been submitted with MOM.. And at that time have you received any text message from MOM.

avinashjhaActive member17 June 2019 07:55:46

#434

Does MoM even send that ?? I don't think so.

kingmoMember17 June 2019 20:10:11

#435

No I did not received any text from MOM

whampoaMember18 June 2019 13:20:42

#436

Hello,

Quick question - if a candidate receives an EP rejection, then the same employer posts a new job bank ad with a new salary range, and then an EP application is re-submitted, does MOM consider this as an appeal or a new EP application?

Many thanks

beppiGermany - Singapore Expert18 June 2019 13:41:37

#437

15302

New application.

Napat.pNew member22 June 2019 10:24:07

#438

Hi,

Just also wanting to share my experience. My company submitted my EP application on June 10. As of now (12 days after the application), the status on the website is still "pending".

I really hope my status will change directly to "approved" without any "vetting agencies" and "other agencies", like in some of the cases mentioned!!!

michael.tjNew member28 June 2019 08:51:37

#439

Hi,

My EP just got approved on the 27th June 2019.

Timeline as follow:
07/06/2019 = EP registration
11/06/2019 = We need input from other agencies
27/06/2019 = Approved

Good luck to everyone out there!!

andrea_baMember01 July 2019 04:46:53

#440

Hi all,

I've been also waiting for my LOC to get approved. Currently in the status "We need input from other agencies" (it has been with this status for 2 weeks).

One concern that I have is that my ex-employer for whom I was supposed to start working previously, has already applied for my work permission (it was approved within 2.5 weeks). However, one day after my approval, the employer withdrew the contract due to internal issues. They paid me compensation of 1 month and cancelled LOC (actually, one month later since they forgot to do so). I have never physically made it to the office = never worked for them. Wonder this could be an issue...

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